Brazilian army brought in to control World Cup football hooligans

FIRING LINE: Riot police in action against protesters in Rio de Janeiro [AFP/GETTY]

Roberto Jaguaribe said handling the fierce rivalry between domestic clubs such as Corinthians and Flamengo – where some fans turn up with guns – was “more of a challenge” than a group of drunken Brits.

Nearly all of Brazil’s police officers will be on security duty during the tournament – backed up by military reinforcements.

Tourism chiefs expect 600,000 supporters from round the world to fly in.

But Mr Jaguaribe said: “The country is used to coping with the demands an event like this can bring.

“Every new year we have over one million people on the Copacabana beach and 400,000 in Rio for the Carnival. We are used to controlling violence between fans like at Flamengo versus Corinthians, which would be more demanding than the World Cup.

“This will be subdued, we hope.”

“England fans do not present the same problem as they did 15 years ago”

Roberto Jaguaribe

Mr Jaguaribe said the Brazilian authorities have been working closely with other countries, including the UK, to stop known hooligans making the trip to the tournament.

And he added: “England fans do not present the same problem as they did 15 years ago.

“There’s been an enormous effort to stop the fans who have caused trouble in the past from travelling to tournaments and that has had a hugely positive impact. There was a history, yes. But that now, we hope, is just what it is – history.”

He said he did not anticipate that any games will be disrupted.

Leila Holsbach, from Brazilian tourist board Embratur, said most football in Brazil was a family friendly event.

She said: “In our national championships we have young children and families who go to the games. “It is not just for men.”